The 25-year-old dedicated the gold medal to her grandmother, who the family lost this year
Northern Ireland-born athlete Kate O’Connor described her heptathlon win at the European Athletics Championships as a “pinch me moment.”
The 25-year-old, who was born in Newry and raised in Dundalk, represented Ireland at the event in Birmingham. She finished third in the 800m, the final event of the competition, to compile a total of 6,751 points, setting a national record and finishing 38 points ahead of Emma Oosterwegel of the Netherlands. Oosterwegel’s compatriot Sofie Dokter was a further 49 points behind in third.
O’Connor set off in the lead and rounded the final bend alongside Oosterwegel, who was able to win the race, but O’Connor stayed close enough to her rival to ensure the European title was hers.
The European Championships gold medal adds to the gold she won at the Commonwealth Games last month, where she represented Northern Ireland.
Sharing a post on Instagram on Sunday, O’Connor described her recent win as a “pinch me moment.” She added: “A title that will last a life time. An honour to represent the Emerald Isle.”
After winning the heptathlon gold on Saturday, she told RTE Sport: “That was the most nerve-wracking 800 of my whole life. I had a job to do, and I know that I’ve had quite a few jobs to do over these last few days. Some of them I’ve executed, some that I haven’t.
“So I was so nervous before that run, but when I heard cheers like that for me going around those two laps, there was absolutely no way that I was going to let that gold medal slip through my fingers.”
She added: “I’ve dreamt of this moment since I started athletics, and a couple of years ago I would have probably never thought that would have happened to me.
“But, it’s been a long two years. I know, a lot of medals, but a lot of increasing pressure on every single competition, and each competition has been different and trying to navigate that.
“And this competition was no different. It was difficult from start to finish, and I didn’t have it easy for a single second.”
She paid tribute to her father and trainer Michael, and dedicated the victory to her grandmother, who the family lost this year.
O’Connor said: “This year has been really tough for me personally. My granny died during the year, and I don’t think I give my dad enough credit, but it really obviously hit home for him big time.
“And the way that he’s still turned up training day in and day out, because this is my dream, but it’s also a dream for him too.
“I think that I have to dedicate this medal to my granny because she was one of our biggest fans, and she would have been jumping for joy if she was here to see this.”
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